Former Boston Globe staff and noted bird photographer Mark Wilson talks about Roger Tory Peterson, bird photography, and his fascination with our avian friends. He’s assisted by his wife, Marcia Wilson, and three live owls. The Wilsons use the owls for educational purposes through their organization Eyes on Owls. Don’t forget to bring your camera.
Admission is free.

Roger Tory Peterson (1908-1996) was a naturalist, ornithologist, artist, photographer, and educator credited with being one of the founding inspirations of the 20th-century environmental movement.

As author and illustrator of the Peterson Field Guides, he also is known for popularizing birding around the world. Digital Silver Imaging in Belmont, MA, has printed some 200 never before printed images taken by Peterson.

Photographs from the Roger Tory Peterson Collection are on exhibit at the Griffin Museum at Digital Silver Imaging, 9 Brighton St., Belmont, MA, August 30 through September 28. A reception is September 5, 6-8 p.m.

The Griffin satellite gallery, which had been at 4 Clarendon St. in Boston’s South End over the past year, has moved back to its renovated and expanded space in Belmont.

Guernesy’s Auctioneers & Brokers is auctioning original paintings from the estates of Peterson and his wife, Virginia Marie Peterson, as well as some 200 photographs – printed by Digital Silver – at the Arader Galleries in New York City on September 8.

“Digital Silver Imaging is honored to be the printer of this rare edition of images,” said Eric Lunden, the company’s founder and owner.

Peterson grew up in Jamestown, NY, and became interested in birds at age 11, when his teacher enrolled her students in the Junior Audubon Club. He finished high school at age 16, with his highest marks being in art, history of art, and mechanical drawing.

Later, while working and saving money for art school, Peterson practiced art and photography using birds as his subjects. He then attended the Art Students League in New York City and the National Academy of Design.

In 1931, he joined the science department at Rivers County Day School in Brookline, MA. He also became a member of America’s oldest ornithological organization, the Nuttal Club in Boston. It was there that he met fellow member, Francis H. Allen, an editor at Houghton Mifflin.

Allen accepted Peterson’s first book for publication, A Field Guide to the Birds, in 1933. It subsequently went through six editions. More than 7 million copies of the book have been sold, with amateurs using it to identify and distinguish one bird from another. Soon, bird watching became a popular hobby.

Peterson also created field guides to wildflowers, mammals, insects, and birds of other regions. He received every major American award for natural science, ornithology, and conservation, as well as numerous honorary medals.

The Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History in Jamestown, NY, is named in his honor.